Hmm, have you got a link with explanations on how to change the specific settings I mentioned above via iDrive?

Whats your Model? E series or F series?

F30.

iDrive Hidden Service Menu

F30 with (Professional) Navigation

This implies that you have an idrive controller that can slide up and down

Call up Start (main) menu

Push controller in up direction for at least 10 s

Rotate controller, 3 notches to the right

Rotate controller, 3 notches to the left

Rotate controller, 1 notch to the right

Rotate controller, 1 notch to the left

Rotate controller, 1 notch to the right

Press controller once

The Service menu is now added as the last submenu to "Settings"

F30 without Navigation, or with Business Navigation

This implies that you have an idrive controller that cannot slide up or down

The instructions are basically the same, but instead of pushing the controller in the up direction, which is not possible, you need to push the controller to the left and keep it there for 10 seconds. So the instructions become;

It is going to be an interesting experience finding the right car. Now in my later years I have become a Nanna driver, my wife who is younger likes to drive ummm hmmmm enthusiastically. On the road she drives according to rules and conditions, get her on a track and she quite frankly puts my underwear at risk of accident.

She loves cars and loves driving. I have seen her drive Minis to V8 Supercar, to a Semi Trailer. If you have seen the Holdens owned thread I created its obvious I have had a love affair with the brand for a long time, we had a falling out but the nostalgia and new models could easily bring a reconciliation, but it's my wife's decision

and only a brave man would try too hard to make a decision for her, for example I had been trying to guide her towards an electric car, hmmm I won't any more .

MikeRetired IT Manager. The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

2. The auto turn off at lights etc, this can only be disabled until the next time you turn the car off.

Sorry i have to bikeshed this but skoda's dont have CVT gearboxes they are either Manual or DSG unless im mistaken.

Suspect you meant DSG.

Yeah I apologise I got that very wrong it is indeed a manual cogs and wheels box with an automatic clutch. Having cleared that up and thanks for the prod on that, the box is dimwitted. It changes out of first way to soon which means it loses grunt right at the take off.

On our hills it tends to hunt for gears so generally she will change to "manual" mode on places like the Rimulaka Hill Road.

MikeRetired IT Manager. The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

Yeah I apologise I got that very wrong it is indeed a manual cogs and wheels box with an automatic clutch. Having cleared that up and thanks for the prod on that, the box is dimwitted. It changes out of first way to soon which means it loses grunt right at the take off.

On our hills it tends to hunt for gears so generally she will change to "manual" mode on places like the Rimulaka Hill Road.

Interesting - is it the 7 speed and a smaller engine?

I have the 6 speed DSG in my Octavia VRS and it works really, really well!

Possibly helps that the engine in this spec is pretty torquey anyway, but having had some reservations about buying the car with a DSG I have been really pleased.

If you are after one of the special edition run out Holdens, then you probably need express interest with a dealer now. My cousin, who is a massive Holden fan, has already been contacted by his local dealer to see if he wants to put his name down for a special edition ute, as there are only limited numbers coming to NZ due to high demand in Oz.

A Holden or a Ford is not going to match a Euro for technology, but if you want tech plus reliability then you need to go Japanese (or Korean). However then you'll then lose the passion. Your wife sounds like the type of driver that wants to admire the vehicle sitting in the driveway as well as enjoy driving it.

While I am not a Holden fan by any stretch, after 2017 there will be Mustangs, the won't be any new Holdens.